Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



searcn 06f Filed July 18, 1944 2 Shoots-Shoot 1 i J. ///IA 7. 2? w 6 W E H 8 a a; 1 Me 2 r I Z I x l P 6- H. HACKLANDER 2,398,225

FEEDING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING IACHINES Filed July 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 MW aclandar Patented Apr. 9, 1946 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Hans Hacklander, Linden, N. J assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application July 18, 1944, Serial No. 545,439

14 Claims.

The invention relates to sewing machines of the type in which the material being stitched is arranged to be supported and fed through the machine by feed-cups adapted to engage the opposite faces of the material directly beneath the path of reciprocation of the needle.

In machines of this type the stitches are formed and set on a stitch finger and are drawn oil. the finger by the progressive advancement of the material in response to the rotation of the feed cups. However, being tightly set on the finger, as is necessary to produce a satisfactory seam, the stitches tend to cling to the finger; and, especially in the case of flimsy materials, this action retards the feed to an extent and in a manner to cause puckering and unequal stitch formation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple form of feeding means, auxiliary to the feed-cups, so organized as effectively to minimize the aforesaid puckering and consequent imperfect stitch formation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings of a preferred form and an alternative embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings,

- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of a cup-feed sewing machine embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line IlI--HI 01. Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view on the line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but with parts omitted and showing the material in position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line VI-VI oi. Fig.5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a detail.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a detail.

Referring first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, th machine may be substantially of the construction described in U. S. Patent No. 2,277,970, dated March 31, 1942, and includes a frame having a standard I which terminates at its upper end in a laterally projecting overhanging bracket 2. Supported by the standard I is an inner feed-cup 3 which cooperates with an outer feed-cup 4 depending from the overhanging bracket 2. The inner feed-cup is mounted on the upper end of a shaft 5 enclosed within a stationary sleeve or housing 6, while the outer feed-cup is mounted on the lower end of a shaft 1 enclosed within a stationary sleeve or housing 8. Through their respective shafts 5 and 1 the feed-cups are driven in synchronism and their work-engaging faces are adapted to support and feed the material being sewn past the stitch-forming devices.

The stitch-forming devices per se form no part of the present invention and, being of any standard or desirable construction, require no description. They may be noted as including a reciprocatory needle 9, spreader l0, looper mechanism H and stitch-finger l2.

As is common in machines of this character and as required by the above-described arrangement of the feed-cups, the material being sewn (a stretch of which is shown in Fig. 5, marked M) is fed through the machine in a vertical position, the upper margin of the material being gripped and advanced by the serrated rims or work-engaging faces of the feed cups as they are rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. As will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, the stitch-forming devices operate immediately above the point of cooperation of the feed-cups.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided auxiliary feeding means including a presser member which preferably comprises a roller l3, the periphery or working face of which is likewise knurled or serrated, as shown in Fig. 5. The roller I3 is journaled on a stud l4 depending from the free end of an arcuate arm [5 which is itself pivotally mounted on the outer end of a radial arm l6 overlying the out r feedcup 4. A spring I! serves to bias the arm l5 inwardly at its free end, thereby urging the roller 13 toward the serrated rim of the feed-cup 4.

The entire supporting means for rollers 13, including the arms l5 and i6, is mounted for turning about the axis of the outer feed-cup 4. To this end, the hub I8 of radial arm 16 is journaled on a sleeve l9 mounted adjacent the lower end of shaft housing 8, being located thereon and secured thereto by a collar 20 and set-screws 2|, 22. As shown in Fig. 4, the set-screw 2| locks the collar 20 to the sleeve l9 and the set-screw 22, passing through a hole in sleeve l9, locks the latter to the shaft housing 8. The hub I8 of radial arm I6 is located between the underside of collar 20 and a flange 23 on the lower end of sleeve l9.

As shown in Figs 2 and 3, means are provided for ready adjustment about the axis of shaft I of the roller 13 and its supporting arms l and I6 from the working position, represented by the full line showing of Fig. 2, to an idle or "out of the way position indicated by the dotted line showing of Fig. 2. To this end, suitably spaced and located notches 24, 25 are formed in the outer face of sleeve [9 to receive and engage a ball 26 located in a hole 21 in the hub 18. The ball is resiliently held in place by a spring 28 which is secured to hub by screws 29. As will be understood, the roller I3 and its supporting assembly can thus be snapped back and forth from the working position, in which ball 26 engages or rests in notch 24, to the idle position in which the ball engages or rests in notch 25, In the working position of the auxiliary feeding means, roller I3 is positioned to cooperate with the outer feedcup 4 at a point beyond the point of cooperation of the feed-cups 3 and 4.

Also mounted on the free end of arcuate arm is a guide member, generally designated 30 in Fig. 7. The guide member comprises a tab portion 3|, having a hole 32 for mounting on the stud l4 beneath nut 33, and a guide face 34 at the lower end of which protrudes a finger 35. As shown in Fig. 5, the guide member 30 is so dimensioned and located that its guide face 34 extends across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups 3 and 4 at their point of cooperation. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, the finger 35 is positioned in a recess 36 in the lower portion of the work-engaging face of the inner feed-cup 3. By this means and without any conscious attention by the operator, the leading edge of the material M, after passing between the feed-cups 3 and 4, is automatically deflected or directed toward the point of cooperation of roller l3 and feed-cup 4. As will be understood, the material is then gripped between the roller l3 and feed-cup 4, as shown in Fig. 5, and there is thus imparted to it an auxiliary draw or pull-feed which implements the action of the feed-cups 3 and 4, off-setting the drag of the stitches on the stitch-finger and resulting in the smooth, uniform advancement of the material through the machine.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8-10, corresponding parts are correspondingly numbered and require no further description. The point of difference in this construction is that the guide member, generally designated 31 in Fig. 10, is mounted independently of roller l3 and its supporting arms l5 and 16. In this instance, the guide member includes a slotted tab portion 38 by which it is adjustably mounted on the frame boss 39 beneath the inner feed-cup 3, being secured to the boss by screws 40. The upwardly projecting arm 4! of the guide member terminates in a guide face portion 42 which, as before, is positioned to extend across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups 3 and 4 at their point of cooperation, thereby directing the material toward the point of cooperation of roller l3 and outer feed-cup 4. The operation of the auxiliary draw-feed thus provided is the same as that already described.

In the light of the foregoing description of two embodiments illustrative of the principles of the invention, the following is claimed:

1. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a roller having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of one of the feed-cups at a point beyond the point of cooperation of such cup with the other cup, and a member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the said point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup.

2. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, and having a drive shaft for one of the cups and a stationary housing enclosing said shaft, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a support mounted on said housing and extending radially beyond the periphery of the adjacent cup, means for sustaining said support with freedom for bodily movement relatively to the feed-cups, a circumferentially extending arm Pivotally mounted on the outer end of said support, a Presser member carried by said arm and having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of said ad- J'acent cup, and spring means urging the presser member toward such cup.

3. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, and having a drive shaft for one of the cups and a stationary housing enclosing said shaft, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising supporting means mounted on said housing and extending radially beyond the periphery of the adjacent cup, a roller carried by said supporting means and having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of the said adjacent feed-cup, and a member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup,

4. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, and having a drive shaft for one of the cups and a stationary housing enclosing said shaft, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising supporting means mounted on said housing and extending radially beyond the periphery of the adjacent cup, a roller carried by said supporting means and having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of the said adjacent feed-cup, and a member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup, said member also being carried by said supporting means.

5. Ina sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the masic.- QLWIWU JV! VI I chine, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a roller having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of one of the feed-cups at a point beyond the point of cooperation of such cup with the other cup, a guide member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the said point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup, and common means for supporting said roller and guide member.

6. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a roller having a work-engaging face psitioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of one of the feed-cups at a point beyond the point of cooperation of such cup with the other cup, a guide member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the said point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup, and means for supporting said roller and guide member with freedom for bodily movement relatively to the feed-cups.

7. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a support mounted for rotation about the axis of rotation of one of the feed-cups, a roller carried by said support and positioned thereby with its work-engaging face cooperating with the work-engaging face of one of the feedcups at a point beyond the point of cooperation of such cup with the other cup, and a member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the said point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup.

8. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a support mounted above the plane of rotation of one of the feed-cups, a roller carried by said support and depending therefrom with its work-engaging face cooperating with the work-engaging face of one of the feed-cups at a point beyond the point of cooperation of such cup with the other cup. and a member extending across a straight line tangent to the feedcups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the said point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup.

9. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating Work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a support mounted above the plane of rotation of one of the feed-cups, a roller carried by said support and depending therefrom with its work-engaging face cooperating with the l work-engaging face of one of the feed-cups at a point beyond the point of cooperation of such cup with the other cup, and a guide member depending from said support having a guide face extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the said point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup.

10. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, and having a drive shaft for one of the cups and a stationary housing enclosing said shaft, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising a support mounted on said housing and extending radially beyond the periphery of the adjacent cup, a presser member carried by said support and having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of said adjacent cup, and snap-lock means for locating said support and presser member in different positions of adjustment about the axis of said shaft.

11. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, and having a drive shaft for one of the cups and a stationary housing enclosing said shaft, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine comprising supporting means mounted on said housing and extending radially beyond the periphery of the adjacent cup, a roller carried by said supporting means and having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of the said adjacent feed-cup, and a member extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup, and snap-lock means for locating said supporting means and roller in different positions of adjustment about the axis of said shaft.

12. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, and having a drive shaft for one of the cups and a stationary housing enclosing said 7 shaft, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through themachine comprising supporting means mounted on said housing and extending radially beyond the periphery of the adjacent cup, a roller carried by said supporting means and having a work-engaging face positioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of the said adjacent feed-cup, and a member carried by said supporting means extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the tioned to cooperate with the work-engaging face of such feed-cup, and a member mounted adiacent the other feed-cup having a guide face extending across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation and positioned for automatically deflecting the leading edge of the material toward the point of cooperation of the roller and feed-cup.

14. A material feeding device adapted for convenient attachment upon a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperating workengaging faces for supporting and feeding material through the machine, comprising a support, a roller carried by said support and having a work-engaging face adapted to cooperate with the work-engaging face of one of said feed-cups, and a member also carried by said support and adapted to extend across a straight line tangent to the feed-cups at their point of cooperation; HANS HACKLANDER. 

